aren't hyphenated names dorky??

Question

Should I keep my maiden name....and add on my married name with a hyphen??? Isn't that too much clutter??

Answer 1

I use both of my family names because they are important to me professionally and personally. It is a matter of choice and personal identity. If you do the double barreled name thing know the US is just getting accustomed to the idea.It does cause minor problems at times and some places will ask you to choose which name to list you under. I have to believe that it will get easier as time goes on and it becomes more common.

Answer 2

Personally I am not going to keep my maiden name when I get married.
However, I do respect those who want to.
To answer your question, I'd want to know why you want to keep it.
If it is the more feminist idea and you "aren't gonna change YOUR name for a man" then yes, I think hyphening would be the best answer.
But I can see where if a girl is an only child, or if there she only has female siblings, she might worry about her family name disappearing. So aside from working it into the names of your children, here is another idea that a friend of mine actually did.
Luckily her middle name is Lynn so it made this transition easier, she simply bumped her names up.
She still goes by her first name except now instead of it being Carrie it is Carrie Lynn (we still just call her Carrie), her new middle name is her maiden name and her new last name is her husband's last name. I had never heard of this but thought it was an interesting alternative to the hyphening. No one would ever know that she changed her name, except on her official documents.
Anyway, good luck.

Answer 3

Here's what I did to keep it simple.
First name /middle name-maiden last name / New last name
Ex. Jane Ann Smith
Now Jane Ann-Smith Newlywed

I would sign my name Jane Newlywed but my maiden name is still a part of my name.

I did not want to lose my maiden name, I have no brothers to carry on our name and it made my Dad and me happy. Also, I was in my late 20's when I was married and I didn't want to change my whole identity.

Answer 4

Another result of femininsm. At one time, this would have never been a question.

If you have been in business where people know you by a particular name then it would make sense for Smith-Jones, so they know who you are.

Answer 5

not as dorky as a man taking a wifes last name like my ex did with me LOL

Answer 6

I find them to be snooty. You might want to get your spouse-to-be's opinion too. I wouldn't be thrilled to hear it.

Answer 7

I think it sounds upper class and elegant.